Making the World a Better Place – One Review at a Time

New in Home Entertainment – February 26, 2013

The MasterRated R for sexual content, graphic nudity and languageAvailable on DVD and Blu-rayI really did all I could do to help myself better appreciate Paul Thomas Anderson’s (Boogie Nights) new film about a disturbed young WWII veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who befriends the charismatic leader of a cult (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in the late 1940s. After seeing the film in theaters and not really getting it, I read the book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright in order to gain a better understanding of Scientology and the themes Anderson was going for in the movie. Then I watched it again. I really feel there is something here and that I will gain better appreciation over time, just like I did with his last film, There Will Be Blood. For now I can tell you there are some excellent performances by a truly talented cast and the film itself is stunning to look at. My biggest problem with this home video release is the lack of a much-needed commentary to add some clarity and perspective. B+

How to Survive a PlagueNot RatedAvailable on DVDThis Oscar-nominated documentary tells the story of the early fight against HIV when the disease was a death sentence rather than a manageable condition. Following the activist groups ACT UP and TAG, the film shows what it took to get not only research for the disease, but also the perseverance needed to get the drugs released for usage. This is a powerful piece of filmmaking that will show you a side of American history that many of you, including myself, were unaware was going on during that tumultuous time. AChicken with PlumsRated PG-13 for some drug content, violent images, sensuality and smokingFrench with English SubtitlesAvailable on DVDFrom Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, the writing/directing team of the Oscar-nominated animated film Persepolis, comes this beautiful yet confusing fable about an Iranian violinist who loses his will to live when his violin is destroyed. Because the film is told in a non-linear fashion that is hard to follow, you get swept away by the beautiful imagery but get a headache trying to piece it all together. While I have not tested this theory, I’m making a big assumption that the film is a much better experience once you’ve already seen it once or twice. I just wish they could have found a way to tweak it for better understanding. Had they done that, this film might have been a beloved foreign classic rather than a head-scratcher. C+

Holy MotorsNot RatedFrench with English SubtitlesAvailable on DVD and Blu-rayI had so many colleagues giving praise to this French export that I just had to check it out. The movie follows a man in the back of a limo as he transforms himself into multiple characters for a series of strange appointments. It’s an extremely quirky yet fun romp through the streets of Paris. Personally, I don’t think many will like it but if you enjoy experimental movies that take you to weird and unusual places, you can’t beat this experience. As for me, it was a trip worth taking. B

Escape FireRated PG-13 for some thematic materialAvailable on DVDRegardless of your political affiliation, I think most Americans can agree on the fact that our health care system is far from healthy. Escape Fire takes a serious look at how broken it is and what can be done, if anything, to fix it. Unfortunately there are more problems than solutions, but I feel that this is a movie that a lot of folks who have no interest in watching films like this should see. While the needed audience might miss it, at least those of us who do check it out get to see a well-made doc about a subject that is close to all of our hearts, literally. A-